Panthers rally past Mid-Prairie

     Monticello proved its comeback ability multiple times as the Panthers scored a four-set volleyball victory at Mid-Prairie of Wellman Oct. 8.

     The Panthers (13-8) won 25-23, 25-22; lost 20-25, and then won 25-19 to close out the match.

     “I am proud of how the girls never gave up,” Monticello coach Stacie Breitbach said. “We were trailing in every set and found a way to come back and finish. They remain determined and aggressive, and that is how we pulled out the win Thursday.

     “We had a couple of key plays in each set that sparked us. Whether it was a timely kill, block, ace serve or dig; someone stepped up and sparked a run.”

     The team had 46 kills, with Bronwyn Hodge getting a career-high 15 kills and Tori McDonald recording 10. McDonald also had 26 assists.

     “Bron came on strong for us,” Breitbach said. “She has been a blocking force at the net all season and has worked on becoming an offensive threat.”

     Serving has been a strong suit for the Panthers for much of the year, and Thursday was no exception, as Monticello served nine aces, including three each from Beka Prull and McDonald, and two from Keziah McQuillen. McDonald served 21-for-21 in the match.

     “We spend time on serving every day,” Breitbach said. “Not just ball placement, but how we can disrupt the other team’s offense. The girls continue to grow and get better in this category.”

     Defensively, the team totaled 76 digs, with four players recording double-digit digs: McDonald with 20, DeLainy Fellinger with 19, McQuillen with 12 and Emma Hynick with 11.

     “Lainy, Keziah, Emma, Tori and Mal (Steiner) are leading our team in digs,” the coach said. “Lainy has been a vocal leader and communicates what is happening on the other side of the court. This helps us to move our defense quicker.”

     The Panthers had a key match at Anamosa Oct. 13 – after this paper went to press – to determined whether Monticello would win the outright North Division title or would have to share it.

Conference,

regionals

     The River Valley Conference meet is Oct. 15 with an truncated format; the Panthers will go to Wilton with two other teams and play a single match.

     Meanwhile, Monticello has also learned its first round regional opponent; the Panthers will play Vinton-Shellsburg (13-19) Oct. 19, 7 p.m. in Monticello.

Oct. 8

Monticello 3, Mid-Prairie 1

MONTICELLO                            Kl    Bl   Dg    Ac

DeLainy Fellinger                         0      0   19      0

Tori McDonald                            10      1   20      3

Emma Hynick                              7      2    11      0

Beka Prull                                    6      1      2      3

Keziah McQuillen                        6      0   12      2

Mallory Steiner                            1      0      7      0

Bronwyn Hodge                         15      2      0      0

Jaelyn Aitchison                          0      0      1      0

Lacie Koppes                              1      0      3      0

Piper Hansen                              1      0      1      0

Jordan Fangmann                       0      0      0      1

Totals                                         46     6     76     9

Assists – McDonald 26, Steiner 8,

Fellinger 3, Hodge 2, McQuillen 2, Hynick 1,

Hansen 1.

Serving leaders – McDonald 21-21,

Prull 22-24.

Set scores

Monticello                    25   25   20   25

Mid-Prairie                   23   22   25   19